Este año para The Offspring no es uno cualquiera. Cumplen su aniversario. Y es que hacen un cuarto de siglo en el mundo de la música. Hace poco dieron una entrevista, haciendo una recopilación de los 25 años de su trayectoria en el mundo de la música.  Hacen un resumen de sus mejores años, aquellos momentos en el que se convirtieron junto a otros grandes referentes de la música del punk-rock como Green Day, en la ola musical del momento. Ya con la publicación de su primer disco Smash en 1994, se hicieron con disco independiente más vendido en toda la historia. Han trabajado con varias compañías pero siempre cosechando los mismo éxitos. Lo que no se duda, es que para ellos, a pesar del transcurso de los años, no les afecta en absoluto. Siguen con el mismo espíritu, las mismas ganas y con los mismo sueños. Son, como Noodles dice “grandes chavales con ganas de diversión”.

A continuación le adjuntamos la entrevista que concedieron a la Vanguardia el pasado agosto:

-El single de vuestro último álbum, Stuff is messed up [traducible por algo así como "la cosa está jodida"], tiene un mensaje muy crítico. ¿Por qué?
-¡Es que la cosa está jodida! Tenemos dos guerras en marcha, la economía está en crisis, hemos tenido huracanes y tsunamis que han destruido lugares y parece que la gente no ha sabido como reaccionar de modo que se pudieran salvar vidas. A todo esto se suma la traición de los medios de comunicación. Britney Spears se afeita la cabeza y se pasan una semana informando. Es de locos.

-¿De quién es la responsabilidad?
-Reconozco que yo también soy culpable, porque veo las cadenas de 24 horas de noticias y quiero saber si realmente Michael Jackson es el padre de esos dos niños. Pero es que hay gente que se pasa todo el rato gritando sobre esto. Vale, hablemos de ello, pero sigamos adelante.

-¿Sigue siendo California un buen lugar para comenzar una banda?
-Creo que sí. Nosotros crecimos en el condado de Orange, un lugar muy conservador, mientras que Los Ángeles es mucho más liberal. Nosotros nos liberamos contra ese conservadurismo. Todavía hay clubs donde tocan las bandas, como el club Chain Reaction, que se ha convertido en algo parecido al Gilman Street de Berkeley. Todavía hay un montón de lugares donde tocar.

-¿Cómo nació The Offspring?
-En el garaje de Dexter [líder y cantante de la banda]. También tocamos un par de veces en mi sala de estar, pero la mayoría de las veces íbamos a casa de Greg. Íbamos los viernes por la tarde con un puñado de cervezas hasta que venía la policía y nos obligaba a callar.

-Y sacasteis un disco…
-Hicimos mil copias del primer álbum y al final tuvimos que regalarlas a nuestros amigos.

-¿Érais unos rebeldes?
-Entonces ya pensábamos que las cosas estaban bastante jodidas. El pop rock cambió cosas… O quizás sólo gritábamos sobre esos cambios, sobre lo que estaba jodido y esas cosas. Nos sentíamos totalmente marginados, sin poder para cambiar nuestras vidas en esa parte tan conservadora del país. Pero lo hicimos, nos rebelamos contra todo ello.

-Formasteis parte de todo un movimiento.
-No sé si realmente fuimos parte de ello. Actuamos con un puñado de bandas de hardcore, pero nosotros éramos un poco distinto, un poco más melódicos. Nos encantaban los Dead Kennedys cuando escribían canciones como Holidays in Cambodia o California über alles.

-¿Cómo ha cambiado vuestra música desde entonces?
-Cuanto más tocamos, más nos gusta explorar distintas áreas musicales para mantener la diversión y la frescura. Al mismo tiempo, intentamos mantener lo bueno de nuestra banda, que es la energía, para ponerla en diferentes tipos de música.

-¿Cómo se puede mantener el espíritu anti-sistema después de vender millones de discos a través de una multinacional?
-No lo sé. Lo que hacemos es seguir gritando y dar alaridos. Es distinto que ir a trabajar a un banco o para un abogado. Salir cada noche al escenario y no estar en una oficina nos mantiene jóvenes.

-¿Seguís siendo independientes pese a trabajar para una filial de Sony?
-Sí, totalmente. Nunca nos han dicho que cambiáramos nada de lo que hemos hecho. Nunca ¿sabes? Las cosas podrían volver a cambiar porque ya no se venden discos y a las discográficas no les van bien las cosas, así que podrían volverse más cuidadosas con lo que sacan al mercado. O también puede ser que pase a importarles todo una mierda… ¡Jajaja!

-¿Las grandes discográficas también necesitan bandas independientes?
-Cuando nosotros aparecimos, Nirvana se acababa de romper. Nirvana era algo totalmente distinto al resto de la música producida masiva y corporativamente. Entonces se hacía básicamente pop, hasta que llegó Nirvana y lo cambió todo. Las radios nunca lo vieron porque pensaban que Nirvana nunca llegaría a ningún sitio. Hasta que un día un tío apostó por ellos. Y entonces empezaron a salir todas estas bandas y el punk resurgió.

-¿Visteis que ahí también había negocio?
-Las compañías conseguían cada vez menos intentando crear bandas, un método del que salen grupos como 98 degrees y todas esas bandas de chicos. Esto sigue existiendo, pero las discográficas también tienen que escuchar a las bandas que ya están haciendo dinero. Cuando nosotros firmamos con Sony teníamos 3 discos y habíamos vendido 12 o 13 millones de discos, así que no iban a venir y decirnos qué teníamos que hacer.

-¿Todavía hacéis lo que queréis?
-Sí. La única vez que hemos tenido problemas con la discográfica es cuando quisimos poner nuestro disco en nuestra web para que se lo descargaran los fans. Visto con perspectiva, lo entiendo. Ahora no se venden discos y los amigos se los pasan unos a otros, pero así es el mundo.

-Mucha gente piensa que los discos eran demasiado caros y que el dinero se había a la promoción de estrellas sin calidades musicales. ¿Qué opinas?
-Sí, los CDs claro que eran demasiado caros. Su producción no es tan costosa y ahora han bajado un montón. Así que, sí, creo que fueron muy lentos en enterarse de qué iba la cosa en Internet. Sólo intentaron combatirlo, combatirlo y combatirlo… Cuando, en realidad, deberían de haber estado intentando descubrir como hacer que funcionara a su favor.

-¿Están aprendiendo a través plataformas como iTunes?
-Sí, quizás poco y tarde. Itunes es un gran invento, pero yo crecí gastándome todo mi dinero en discos. Creo que la música tiene valor.

-¿Culpáis a la gente que se descarga música por internet?
-No, no lo hago. Es demasiado fácil. Yo también grababa casetes para mis amigos y sólo compraba un disco cuando me gustaba.

-¿Cómo escuchas música?
-Normalmente la descargo gratuitamente en mi ordenador… ¡¡Jajaja!! Tengo algo parecido al iPod, que se llamar Request y lo tengo conectado el iTunes de mi ordenador.

-En su momento os pronunciasteis a favor de Napster. ¿Seguís apoyando las actuales plataformas de intercambio de archivos?
-¿Qué se supone que tengo que hacer? ¿No estar de acuerdo? O descubres como hacer que Internet funcione a tu favor o nadas a contracorriente y no vas a llegar a ningún lado. No culpo a los niños y a los fans por conseguir música gratis. Los fans mayores sí comprarán, pero por qué iban a hacerlo los más jóvenes si pueden conseguirlo en Internet.

-Vuestro público es muy joven…
-Sí, eso mola.

-¿Cómo lo conseguís?
-No tengo ni idea. Sólo se necesitan un par de canciones para conseguir que los chavales vuelvan a estar interesados. Sólo intentamos hacer las mejores canciones que podemos. Hacer lo que hacemos para vivir y divertirnos nos mantiene jóvenes.

-¿Así que, aunque empezasteis hace 25 años, todavía veis al público dando saltos en vuestros conciertos?
-Sí, claro. Y yo también los doy. Todavía no voy en caminador… ¡Jajaja!

Tracklist:

01 – Welcome

02 – Have you Ever

03 – Staring at The Sun

04 – Pretty Fly

05 – Kids Aren’t Alright

06 – Feelings

07 – She’s Got Issues

08 – Walla Walla

09 – End of the Line

10 – No Brakes

11 – Why Don’t You Get a Job

12 – Americana

13 – Pay the Man

http://lix.in/-61ef93

#100: Alien Ant Farm/ANThology (2000) — Besides the cover of MJ’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ this album boasted pop gems like ‘Courage,’ ‘Attitude,’ and ‘Happy Death Day.’ The great thing about the record is that it stood out as a cohesive pop rock album on the whole. Something the band couldn’t seem to do on subsequent albums…

#99: The Fratelli’s/Costello Music (2007) — one of the most unabashed fun albums of the decade combining 90’s Brit Pop (a la Oasis and Blur) with Punk (The Clash). The whole album has a swagger to it. Check out choice cuts: ‘Chelsea Dagger,’ and ‘Flathead.’

#98: Blue October/Foiled (2005) — ‘Hate Me’ was the modern rock anthem of the year in 2006, but it was the rest of the album that was the real jem. Heartfelt lyricism from Justin Furstenfeld and a musical backdrop that at times recalled vintage Peter Gabriel, while retaining a Post-Grunge soun…d that worked wonders on album opener ‘You Make Me Smle,’ and ‘Congratulations.’ Completely turned me on to the Houston band’s back catalog and an incredible live show, to boot…

#97: The Offspring/Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (2008) — I have pretty much all of the Offspring’s back catalog, but Bob Rock has a tremendous ability to reign in a band’s focus as a producer. The band’s humor is intact and Noodles guitarwork still soars through the chug-chug of their true punk power chords. ‘Half-Truism,’ ‘You’re Gonna Go Far Kid,’ and ballad, ‘Fix You,’ are standouts.

#96: John Frusciante/The Empyrean (2009) — Frusciante has already established himself as one of the premier guitarists of the past 20 years, but none more cohesive than effort released earlier this year. A true record for guitar fans from 9+ minute opener ‘Before the Beginning,’ to album single ‘Unreachable,’ and personal favorite ‘Central.’

#95: Ryan Adams/Easy Tiger (2007) — Ryan Adams was one of the most prolific songwriters of the decade, but on 2007’s Easy Tiger, the pop polish seems to come a little easier and his southern rock struck a chord with a wider audience. Can’t miss cuts like ‘Two,’ ‘The Sun Also Sets,’ and ‘I Taught Myself How to Grow Old,’ highlight a full disc of album rock.

#94: Thirty-Six Crazyfists/Bitterness the Star (2002) — I remember Lou Mansdorf telling me to check these guys out when he was still with Roadrunner. I thought ‘Eh, I’ll give it a spin.’ And then…I got hit in the head with a shovel full of bricks. The absolute raw intensity of the band’s op…ening salvo on the world was jaw-shattering to say the least. While it seemed Roadrunner never fully understand what they had, I’ve followed the band since that day. Cathartic music for a troubled mind, at times. I’ll never forget seeing the band open for Mudvayne and One Minute Silence in a barn called Saratoga Winners years ago, meeting Brock and the guitarist and remembering how humble they were at the time. Seemed ironic a band with such power could be humble. Mudvayne could take a lesson. Check out: ‘An Agreement Called Forever,’ ‘Slit Wrist Theory,’ and ‘Left Hand Charity.’

#93: Devildriver/The Last Kind Words (2007) — Album #3 from former Coal Chamber frontman, Dez Fafara, and friends is as hard hitting as they come. A lot of detractors blame Devildriver for copying virtually every form of metal out there. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery a…nd this collection seems short on mimicry. From the opening thrash of ‘Not All Who Wander Are Lost,’ to the European-influenced ‘Horn of Betrayal,’ to the slinky, sludgy ‘ Monsters of the Deep,’ DD fail to disappoint.

#92: Cold/Year of the Spider (2003) — Cold’s most commercially successful album (thanks in no small part to radio’s reception of ‘Stupid Girl,’ co-written by Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo). But it’s Ward and company’s ability to escape typical nu-metal fare forged by Korn and Limp Bizkit, to cut to t…he chase with heartfelt lyricism, and maintain crossover sensibility in a modern rock landscape that would turn it’s back on the band by the time their third album was received in 2005. Fortunately the band is back with original guitarist Terry Balsamo and firing on all cylinders. ‘Suffocate,’ ‘Wasted Years,’ and ‘Sad Happy’ are standouts.

#91: Soulfly/Dark Ages (2005) — as one might notice already in my countdown, I have a penchant for metal. I was never a huge Sepultura fan, but Soulfly have continually ripped my face off, while also appealing to me with a world music/sount american tribal vibe that sometimes comes off as the vaied ‘eyes’ of the hurricanes that are built and swell in each album. 2005’s ‘Dark Ages,’ was a favorite and if memory serves correctly was the first full album with Marck Rizzo (formerly of Ill Nino) in the fold. While ‘Babylon,’ ‘I and I,’ and ‘Frontlines,’ all shred, ‘Innerspirit,’ ‘Riotstarter,’ and ‘Soulfly V’ create amazing tribal and Santana-like vibes. Cool shit.

#90: Doves/Some Cities (2005) — the opening drum beat and jangle of ‘Some Cities,’ will forever, indelibly be etched upon my ears. Despite the fact that my truck ended up in a ditch one snowy day in Vermont as ‘Snowden,’ played in the CD player, I still love the album. Perfect for a Sunday morning. ‘Some Cities,’ ‘Black and White Town,’ and ‘Walk in Fire,’ are personal favorites.

No podía faltar en este blog la banda, también californiana, The Offspring.  Actualmente está integrada por Dexter Holland (cantante y guitarra),  Noodles (guitarra principal y guitarra rítmica) ,  Greg K (bajo),  Pete Parada (batería)  y Josh Freese (batería pero en el estudio).

Son conocidos por su música punk rock, aunque no se han mantenido siempre en el mismo registro, puesto que han pasado por el pop-rock, rock alternativo y hardcore melódico, éste último en los albores de la banda.
Cómo muchos sabréis, junto a otros grupos como Green Day, Rancid o Blink 182, han logrado  resurgir el punk-rock de los noventa tras unos años de decadencia. Y es que las mejores bandas no mueren, tal y como dijo un día Dexter Holland en una de sus entrevistas “Las grandes bandas no mueren…”

A lo largo de toda su discografía han logrado vender más de 45 millones de discos, colocándose en muchos países en el TOP-ten. Y es que a pesar de los años, Offspring sigue metiéndose en el bolsillo a un público tanto joven como adulto.
Con un total de ocho discos, The Offspring se prepara para lanzar en breves su último disco. Se estima que será para primeros del 2010 pero más adelante os confirmaremos con más detalles y ofreceremos algún adelanto sobre ese nuevo lanzamiento con novedades sólo alcanzables para los seguidores de este blog.

A lo largo de estos años, la banda ha tenido dos personas como cabeza de grupo, dos vocalistas. El primero de ellos se llamaba Doug Thompson. Sólo estuvo en el primer disco en el año 1984. La banda para entonces estaba consagrada bajo el nombre de Manic Subsidal. Y ya fue Dexter Holland quien cogió el relevo hasta ahora, y con un montón de éxitos y premios a su espalda. Si quieres saber qué premios ha logrado a lo largo de su carrera musical, no os perdáis la próxima entrada. Aquí, os dejo un vídeo de su videoclip “Can’t repeat” incluido en el Greatest Hits publicado en el año 2005. ¡¡Disfrutarlo!!

Walker has shot a couple of bucks already this year.  He killed both in Johnston County with his rifle.  Good job Walker…now let your Dad kill one.

Time to talk about The Offspring, one of the best punk/alternative rock bands I know. They formed back in 1984 under the name of “Manic Subsidal”, and in 1985 they changed their name to The Offspring (I think it was a good choice). They have a great sense of humor in their songs, but they can also be very serious at times.

Probably their most successful album is Smash, which is their biggest selling album and set the all-time record for most units sold by an independent label band with 16 million units sold. Smash was also their most punk rock album and only their second album.  A “smashing” hit (pun intended) from the album is Self Esteem. It’s like a comedic song about a person who has no self esteem.

The album that followed was Ixnay on the Hombre, one of my favorite albums. Dexter said “Ixnay on the Hombre” means “F*** authority” and “F*** the man.” The album was different than Smash  because it wasn’t as punk rock, but more mainstream. The album includes Gone Away, a song Dexter Holland, the lead singer, wrote about the death of a loved one. Another hit is All I Want (I really like this one) which is about sticking it to the man. The message of the song is pretty much saying, “Hey government, stop trying to control my life! Thats all I want!’ Another song in the album is Change The World, which talks about how people always promise that they are gonna change the world, yet they do nothing to work on that goal. For example, when congressmen say “Vote for me and I will do this and that”, and in the end, they don’t do what they say.

From my knowledge, they have 9 albums and another one coming out in 2010, but i’m too lazy to talk about all of them. Maybe in another post. 

Other songs I love from The Offspring are: “Dammit, I Changed Again” “You’re Gonna Go Far Kid” “Hammerhead” “Why Don’t You Get A Job” “Pretty Fly For A White Guy” “Stuff Is Messed Up” “Can’t Repeat” and a lot more! So please give them a chance and check out their songs.

Disclaimer: I dont own the songs nor the videos. The songs belong to The Offspring. The videos belongs to some dudes on youtube.

I see the way the salesmen stare into the sun
I stood and watched them as they fell off one by one
And everyone’s so blind
They’re not to help mankind

Reach into your bag of tricks and pull another one

You don’t want to change the world
Like you say
You’re in it for yourself
No one else

You’re ready
Saving yourself
You’re gonna change the world
You’re ready
Saving yourself
You’re gonna change the world

Now when the day is set they’ll line up all the same
And those that need the most will never get or gain
The ones you call your friends
Are failing you again

Reach into your bag of tricks and make it go away

You don’t want to change the world
Like you say
You’re in it for yourself
No one else

You’re ready
Saving yourself
You’re gonna change the world
You’re ready
Saving yourself
You’re gonna change the world

And since you ain’t what you say
Then just go away
Cause some don’t lie
Some don’t lie

Go on now they won’t tell
Go on now and save yourself

^_^  The Offspring  ^_^

E bine din cand in cand sa iti aduci de the good old times. Si azi am un chef nebun sa ascult toate cretinitatile care inca imi plac. Un playlist de duminica la pranz format din nume precum:

• Sum 41, Blink 182, Good Charlotte, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Busted, Son of Dork, Crize, Veritasaga, Coma, EMIL, OCS, PCC, Green Day, IPR, Kaos Urbano, Lustra, McFly, Ombladon, Vita de Vie, Vama Veche, The Offspring, Placebo, Protex, Rancid, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Simple Plan, Silverstein, SS3, SOAD, The Kooks, The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Travka, Varukers

astea fiind doar cele de care imi amintesc acum.

Si acum o melodie mai mult decat foarte tare si aproape perfecta pentru o duminica asa de anapoda:

We have to agree, “The Kids Aren’t Alright,” especially if they are all plastic Lego people.  However, The Offspring or as we like to call them, The Legoffspring’s music video is first rate.  Check it out after the jump.

Who I Am.

I guess I should start with the typical introduction. My name is Brian, and I’m a junior at Ashland University in Ashland, OH. I’m majoring in Journalism and Speech Communication with a focus on Public Relations and a minor in Marketing. I graduated from Bellbrook High School in Bellbrook, OH in May of 2007.

I have four major hobbies: Writing, photography, music, and cars (European, in particular).

Writing.

I’ve written a little bit of everything. I dabbled mainly in fiction and poetry through high school. I entered college as a Computer Science and Engineering major, so I stopped doing a lot of writing for a while. I popped out a fictional piece once in a while, but nothing major. I transfered to Ashland University in the spring of 2008, and changed my majors to Journalism and English with the dreams of writing a book.

Well, things went swimmingly with that for a while. I started to get involved with the campus newspaper, The Collegian, writing stories about anything and everything- Concerts reviews to features to mundane things such as explaining the recent database crash our IT department suffered.

Photography

I picked up a camera as early as elementary school. I didn’t know how to use it, but I could take pictures. I got my first digital point-and-click in middle school, and it all took off from there.

Spring of 2008 I bought my first DSLR camera. I mainly used it for landscapes, although I did a lot of low light setting setting pictures for a car club.

Photography remained mostly as a hobby until January 2009, when I got a job taking pictures for the campus newspaper. I got my first experience with concert photography. They’ve had me take pictures of anything from speeches or buildings to concerts of big bands.

2009-1-16, After Edmund

Recently I had the opportunity to shoot my first big band, Jack’s Mannequin.

Jack's Mannequin, 2009-9-25

Music

I love doing concert photography, so obviously I’ve got a strong passion for music. I listen to a little bit of everything. Since I’ve been typing this I’ve listened to My Chemical Romance, The Offspring, Shinedown, From Autumn To Ashes, Avenged Sevenfold, and several others.

I can play a wide variety of musical instruments. I started playing trumpet in 6th grade, french horn in 8th, and have been playing guitar since about third grade. I’m not good or motivated by any means. My acoustic hasn’t left its case since March of 2009.

Why?

So why am I writing this blog? It just seems like the thing to do.

It seems like a good way to get my thoughts and opinions out about current events. It seems like a good place to get a foundation as a journalist and to get my name out. It seems like a good place to start publicising my photography.

Hey everyone.  Sorry about being away for so long.  I have been on one hell of a BBQ adventure across this country.

So I will be updating this site and the  website www.notleyque.com starting tomorrow.  Please check back every day for news, updates, photos. LOTS has happened since I have been gone.

I have to be honest here, but I’ve never been to an actual rock concert. I was supposed to go to the Rise Against concert last summer on July 16th with my friends Mario and Laura, but I was stuck with my cousins in Mexico. I also planned to go to The Offspring’s concert on May 20th here in the Nokia Theater, but it was on a school night. I know, lame. Anyways, I am here to show you some of the coolest concerts that I’ve  seen on youtube by some of the best bands ever. I wish to be in at least one of these concerts.

First Example, an Iron Maiden concert. This is them playing No More Lies, an awesome song. I love how the crowd participates by singing along with the band and always being so energenic. Plus, theres no moshpit here, and I really hate moshpits, they scare me.

Next cool concert is the famous Mexican rock band, Mana, playing Clavado En Un bar (which I think translates to Drunk at a Bar). This is pretty much one big montage full of clips of their concerts. Now these guys know how to entertain a crowd.

Rise Against  performing Blood-Red, White, and Blue. You guys should already know about Rise Against since I worte a whole post about them. I also don’t like Australian circles, whatever those things are. If I was dragged into one of those, I would probably just stand there and try not to hit anybody and try to not get hit.  

The Offspring playing All I Want. I would go there, but I will most likely be in the back, away from the mosh pit. I will soon write a post over these guys. They rock.

So I heard that Rancid opened for Chicago bred punks, Rise Against, this past summer. I grew up in Chicago (but now live in LA) and caught the tail end of the 80s hardcore scene when bands like Naked Raygun were packing them in at the Caberet Metro. Back then I couldn’t wait to mosh with the skinheads. Man, those were the days…I caught many a combat boot in the head while skanking in the pit.

So now that there’s a Chicago “Punk band” cracking the Billboard 100 I have one simple question: is Rise Against any good? Or does their straight edge vegan agenda kinda ruin it for you? Isn’t there something patently “unpunk” about being dubbed PETA’s “most animal-friendly band?” I think my cool meter just hit zero.

I heard their song “Savior” on the KROQ but thought it was The Offspring. What do you think of these guys?

AFG Must Rock!
Check out: www.TheSwaggerSticks.com

Do you remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned you need to START NOW!?

Well, I hope I remember those words as well, because it has been a rough 24 hours, and it’s not looking to get any better for the next few hours.

It started yesterday when I got an invitation to go to lunch with a friend.  We had been playing phone tag or schedule tag on lunch for a few weeks so I jumped at the opportunity.  I even chose to go to European Street where they have an awesome Raspberry Almond Chicken Salad.  Things were going great until I saw my nemesis, the Blue Max on the menu.  It’s basically a Reuben, and if you remember, I love my Reubens.

A Reuben at Carnegie Deli

This was the last Reuben I ate, and it was not a pretty site.  So my willpower caved and I ordered the Blue Max.  Delicious?  Yes!  Worth it?  Probably not.

So I committed myself to getting back on track for dinner last night.  But one thing led to another and I didn’t end up leaving work until about 5:30.  Since we all have to be at church by 6:30, I knew there would be no time to make dinner when I got home, so I pulled into Taco Bell.

I could have easily ordered food for the kids and had a protein shake at home, but they have the Fresca menu at Taco Bell.  150 calories for a taco?  I can handle that!  So the order is placed and I’m almost safe… when I notice that the Loaded Nachos are back for a limited time.  They are so good.  Have you seen these things?

1000 Calories of Delicious Guilt

What to do?  I can START NOW, or cave in to my basic instincts.

So when I got home and dug into my nachos, I immediately felt the guilt.  I knew right away that I would pay for this indiscretion on the scale Thursday morning.  Nonetheless, I finished my 1000 calorie gut bomb and decided to put one bad day behind me.

This morning, I got up with resolve and hammered out my 5k in just over 32 minutes, feeling good about the run, and happy that I didn’t let one bad day get me off track.  I was cruising and ready to get a few solid days in before the weekend.

Then I walked into the house and saw my son.

He was dressed and ready to go, as he is every morning, but he had not had breakfast, because today was Dads and Donuts day at his school.  He has been making sure I would be coming to this event all week long.  All of a sudden, the next meal put in front of me is destined to be a bad one.

So we headed off to school for Dads and Donuts, which to be clear, is exactly what it sounds like.

Nate at Dads and Donuts

As you can see, Nate was having a great time.  I, on the other hand…

My partially eaten Boston Creme Donut

…had at least this brief moment of doubt before completing my donut.  This was beginning to spiral out of control!

So I arrived at work, already dreading the scale.  I put on my best brave face and climbed on that digital purveyor of truth and guilt… 243 pounds.  I can not be any more plain to anyone who is looking to lose weight.  Food is everything. In 24 hours, I had gained back the three pounds I had lost with two good days.  When would this end?

You’re probably waiting for the dramatic finish or moment of clarity that gets me back on the right track.  Wrong.  Today I had a lunch with my local chapter of PRSA, and the lunch was at Maggiano’s Restaurant.  From the blue cheese crumble salad to the ravioli and right down to the amazing strawberry cheesecake, I blew it yet again.  At the end of the meeting I lamented the fact I had not taken a picture of my overflowing plate.  In reality, there was probably a bit of self editing there as I was a little afraid to actually show you what I was eating.

But the sad thing is that I did not have a grasp on just how severe the problem was until I started writing this and putting everything down chronologically.  One bad decision leads to another, which leads to doubt and insecurity.  You often don’t even realize that you are making yet another bad decision, until you put them in a row like this.

The only thing I can advise myself and any of you who have suffered from the same situation is this: START NOW! I will make my dinner tonight, and it will be a healthy one. (detailed in this earlier post).  I did my run today, and I will definitely do my weekend runs.  I have already plotted my course for my 6 mile run on Sunday, and I think I will have no major problems with it.

Thank you to all of you who read this and send me notes of inspiration.  I may share some of them tomorrow as it is a rest day.  your thoughts and comments really do make a difference.  Thank you!

Vital Statistics:

Workout: 3.1 Miles

Time: 32:26

Pace: 10:24

Weight: 243

Playlist:

Nobody Wins in the End – Nelson

Trash – Korn

I Stay Away – Alice In Chains

Don’t Drink That Wine – N.W.A.

21st Century Breakdown – Green Day

Prayer – Disturbed

Man in the Box – Alice In Chains

Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills – Pantera

Silent Lucidity – Queensrÿche

Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) – The Offspring

Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Jimi Hendrix

For The Insane TV

Ever wonder what happens when a story doesnt end?

download the episode here.

Zwykło się mówić, że trzecia płyta jest przełomowa w dyskografii zespołu i rzeczywiście – w tym wypadku stwierdzenie to sprawdziło się to w stu procentach. Krążek jest bowiem czymś więcej niż tylko wizytówką zespołu kojarzoną ze względu na rekordy sprzedaży wśród albumów wydanych przez niezależną wytwórnię. Stanowi ona swoisty przekaz, którego adresatem są młodzi ludzie. Płyta traktuje o ich świecie, o ich problemach, obawach i marzeniach. Jest ona także donośnym apelem do każdego, komu przyszło żyć w tamtejszych realiach.

Album “Smash” jak przystało na dzieło punkrockowców, przynosi raczej przewidywalną muzykę, chociaż momentami potrafi zaskoczyć. Takie numery jak Genocide” czy It’ll Be A Long Time z całą pewnością można zaliczyć do najcięższych w repertuarze formacji. Oprócz charakterystycznego dla grupy punk rockowego pędu (na naprawdę niezłym poziomie technicznym, przynajmniej jak na ten styl muzyczny), dostajemy dużą dozę muzyki bardziej złożonej. Zespół prezentuje całkiem dojrzały styl gry, napiętnowany dość dużym indywidualizmem wykonawczym. Znajdziemy tu kilka haczyków, które pozwolą nam zatrzymać się dłużej przy tej płycie - takie  jak chociażby “Come Out And Play” z chwytliwym motywem gitarowym, czy też utrzymany w grunge’owym klimacie “Self Esteem”. W zasadzie każda kolejna kompozycja na “Smash”  przynosi jakieś zaskoczenie.

Pozostałe utwory także sprawiają bardzo pozytywne wrażenie. Oczywiście nie zabrakło rzeczy bardziej tradycyjnych – “It’ll Be A Long Time” z łobuzerskim śpiewem Dextera Hollanda to już The Offspring w najczystszej punkowej postaci – takie proste, melodyjne granie z jakim grupę od zawsze kojarzymy. Amerykanie na krążku umieścili także swoją wersję “Killboy Powerhead” z repertuaru gigantów amerykańskiego punk rocka lat 80′ – The Didjits.

Z muzycznych poczynań zespołu emanuje niesłychana energia i witalność, której próżno jest szukać na kolejnych płytach formacji. Melodia, czad, bezpretensjonalność. I wszystko połączone w doskonały sposób. “Smash” to jedna z najciekawszych punkowych propozycji lat 90′.

8/10

CD Zipado:

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Faixas:

1. Can’t Repeat

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2. Come Out And Play (Keep ’Em Separated)

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3. Self Esteem

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4. Gotta Get Away

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5. All I Want

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6. Gone Away

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7. Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)

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8. ‘Why Don’t You Get A Job?

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9. The Kids Aren’t Alright

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10. Original Prankster

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11. Want You Bad

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12. Defy You

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13. Hit That

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14. (Can’t Get My) Head Around You

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15. Faixa bônus

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Whats on in October at the Tivoli?

Friday 2nd October
Daniel Kitson
Doors open at 7pm
Tickets $33 through Ticketek

Saturday 3rd October
Steeleye Span
Doors open at 7pm
Tickets $88 through Ticketek

Friday 9th October
Skid Row
Doors open at 7:30pm
Tickets $79 through Ticketek

Sunday 11th October
Sarah Blasko – SOLD OUT
Doors open at 7:30pm
Tickets were $55

Friday 16th October
Obese Records Block Party
Doors open at 7:30pm
Tickets $40 through Ticketek

Saturday 17th October
The Gangsters Ball (Burlesque, Cabaret and Swing dancing night)
Doors open at 7pm
Tickets $69 through Ticketek

Wednesday 21st October
Ace Frehley
Doors open at 7:30pm
Tickets $86.20 through Ticketek

Friday 23rd October
Maz Jobrani
Doors open at 7pm
Tickets $55 through Ticketek

Wednesday 28th October
The Offspring - SOLD OUT
Doors open at 7pm
Tickets were $55

Friday 30 October
Nas
Doors open at 7:30pm
Tickets $84.20 through Ticketek

Address: 52 Costin Street, Fortitude Valley
Ticketek: http://premier.ticketek.com.au/

In the 1990s the revival of ska music, known as the third wave, came in a raw form with strong ties to the punk rock music scene. It’s no surprise since ska music comes with a fast-paced rollicking energy that appealed to young working-class youths. British and American punks ate up reggae and ska, and the sound fused well with rip-roaring punk rock. My favorites from this genre include Operation Ivy, Fishbone, Rancid, and Sublime. Brad Nowell of Sublime had a knack for making great third-wave ska punk rock.

The Aggrolites have mad a distinct impression on the third-wave ska movement, bringing their California soul-drenched sound to the mix. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are symbolic of this genre, laying grimy vocals over ska horns and rock guitars. Some of the great punk bands have made their own ska-infused tracks, including NOFX, Goldfinger, the Offspring, and even the hardcore punk group Propagandhi.

Propagandhi’s track “Ska Sucks” is really a critique of the ska revival. As a representative of the punk intelligentsia, Propagandhi questions everyone and everything, including authority, religion, and the quality of the ska revival.  The song makes a captivating argument why the ska revival “sucks,” singing the message over a wonderful third wave ska sound.

1. Operation Ivy – Sound System
2. Fishbone – Party At Ground Zero
3. Rancid – Time Bomb
4. Sublime – Date Rape
5. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Impression That I Get [Explicit]
6. The Aggrolites – Countryman Fiddle (Album Version)
7. Skavoovie & The Epitones – One Mint Julep
8. Reel Big Fish– Walkin’ on Sunshine
9. NOFX – Bob
10. Goldfinger – I Love You More Today
11. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Simmer Down
12. The Offspring– Why Don’t You Get A Job?
13. Manu Chao – Machine gun
14. Propagandhi – Ska Sucks
15. Rancid – Fall Back Down (Album Version)
16. The Aggrolites – Ghost Town
17. The Stingers ATX – Painting Portraits
18. Supervillians – Resin
19. Suicide MacHines – I I Never Promised You A Rose Garden
20. The Slackers – Don’t You Want a Man
21. Hepcat – Marcus Garvey
22. Buck-O-Nine – Irish Drinking Song
23. Sublime & Gwen Stefani – Saw Red
24. Dance Hall Crashers – Lost Again
25. Sublime – Jailhouse
26. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Someday I Suppose
27. Rancid – Ruby Soho
28. Sektacore – Cool Cat
29. The Insteps – The Insteps
30. Mu330 – Hoosier Love
31. The Scofflaws – Grazin’ in the Grass
32. Westbound Train – Check Your Time
33. Hub City Stompers – Leave Me the Fuck Alone
34. The Pietasters – Out All Night
35. Deal’s Gone Bad – Movin’ On
36. The Aquabats – Pool Party
37. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Rascal King
38. Stingers ATX – Let’s Be In Love
39. Less Than Jake – We Go Together
40. Mustard Plug – Mr. Smiley
41. Sublime – Wrong Way
42. Skavoovie & the Epitones – She Sure Can Cook
43. Streetlight Manifesto – Keasbey Nights
44. Mad Caddies – Drinking for 11
45. Soweto – Blue Ska
46. Fishbone – Skankin’ to the Beat
47. Sublime – Same in the End
48. No 1 Station – Last Train
49. Skapone – Guns and Steeples
50. Soulsteppers – Warhead
51. Deal’s Gone Bad – Messin’ Around
52. Soweto – Honey Rider
53. Stan or Itchy – Feelin’ Good
54. The New York Jazz Ensemble – Haitian Fight Song
55. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Where’d You Go
56. The Pietasters – Maggie May
57. The Slackers – Better Late Than Never
58. Hepcat – Dance Wid’ Me
59. Super Villians – Mary Jane and Jager
60. Buck-O-Nine – My Town
61. Dancehall Crashers – Don’t Wanna Behave
62. MU330 – KKK Hiway
63. Deal’s Gone Bad – Be Mine Tonight
64. The Slackers – I Shall Be Released
65. The Scofflaws – Ska-La-Carte
66. The Hub City Stompers – I’ve Got A Boot
67. The Stingers ATX – Rock and Ska
68. Mustard Plug – Brain on Ska
69. Skavoovie & the Epitones – Parakeet
70. Westbound Train - Why You Cry

Give it to me baby…